Apparatus and method for accurately dispensing and consolidating powdered material into receptacles

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for extracting a measured accurate quantity of granular or powdered material from a bulk supply, de-aerating the material in the extraction process, dispensing the material into an individual receptacle and compacting the material in the receptacle. In the preferred embodiment the invention is applied to the charging of explosive powders into bullets, detonators or other receptacles on a mass production basis. The invention utilizes a ram in tube assembly each separately actuated by a cam to descent into a bulk supply of powder with a relative motion carefully controlled to retain within the tube a de-aerated and partially compacted slug of powder. The powder is then dispensed by the ram from the tube into the bullet jacket or detonator cup with a final accurately controlled compaction stroke of the ram properly compacting the powder in the receptacle. The ram in tube assembly includes adjustments for compaction pressure and the quantity of powder and is adapted for plural use on a rotary filling machine or multiple gang type press station when incorporated within an in line pallet type transfer system.

United States Patent 1 Nohren [451 Jul 8,1975

[76] Inventor: John E. Nohren, 1760 Long Bow Ln., Clearwater, Fla. 33516 22 Filed: Aug. 6, 1973 21 App]. No.: 385,890

[52] [1.8. CI.... 141/]; 86/31 [51] Int. Cl B65b 1/16 [58] Field of Search 86/23, 29, 30, 31, 32,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1972 Taylor et a1. 86/31 4/1972 Aronson 86/31 Primary Examiner-Harry N. l-Iaroian [57] ABSTRACT The invention comprises a method and apparatus for extracting a measured accurate quantity of granular or powdered material from a bulk supply, de-aerating the material in the extraction process, dispensing the material into an individual receptacle and compacting the material in the receptacle. In the preferred embodiment the invention is applied to the charging of explosive powders into bullets, detonators or other receptacles on a mass production basis. The invention utilizes a ram in tube assembly each separately actuated by a cam to descent into a bulk supply of powder with a relative motion carefully controlled to retain within the tube a dc-aerated and partially compacted slug of powder. The powder is then dispensed by the ram from the tube into the bullet jacket or detonator cup with a final accurately controlled compaction stroke of the ram properly compacting the powder in the receptacle. The ram in tube assembly includes adjustments for compaction pressure and the quantity of powder and is adapted for plural use on a rotary filling machine or multiple gang type press station when incorporated within an in line pallet type transfer system.

21 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 1 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACCURATELY DISPENSING AND CONSOLIDATING POWDERED MATERIAL INTO RECEPTACLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The subject of the invention is related to the art of dispensing granular or powdered materials such as gun powder in bulk quantities. Such materials are usually sensitive to humidity and compaction or de-aeration with the result that dispensing and consolidating machines for these materials must accomodate the changeable characteristics of the materials in order to precisely measure and compact in individual receptacles. When the material to be dispensed is highly explosive and must be dispensed in precise quantities with a precise amount of compaction into small receptacles such as detonator caps the dispensing problem becomes critical. The dispensing machine must handle the material with a minim um of spillage and a minimum of frictional contact. Prior art machines generally have used a funnelling method whereby small quantities of the granular or powdery explosive material are precisely measured and funnelled from above into the shells or detonator caps and then compacted with a separate plunger. The funnelling method results in a machine of limited speed for mass production and the amount of explosive material that may be held in the reservoir to the funnel is restricted for safety. Therefore the machine additionally must be shut down every few minutes to refill the funnel supplies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a ram concentrically mounted inside a tube each controlled for relative and conjoint axial movements by separate actuating means such that the tube and ram are initially inserted into a reservoir of material to be dispensed and a sequence of differential motions relative to the tube, ram and reservoir cause a charge of material to be drawn into the tube, precompacted, precisely measured, removed within the tube from the reservoir thereupon positioned above a receptacle and dispensed therein. Optionally, the precompacted charge may be doctored in the reservoir or subsequent to removal from the reservoir.

The dispensing into the receptacle and the final compaction therein is accomplished by the same tube and ram assembly which extracted the charge from the reservoir. The tube and ram assembly, which may be referred to as a charge tube assembly, is ideally suited for plural use on a rotatable turret with the relative motions actuated by pairs of followers attached to the tube and ram elements and engaging a pair of stationary cams concentric with the rotatable turret.

The reservoir for this machine may be a plurality of cup-like chambers which follow an arcuate path under the charge tube assemblies as they rotate on the turret. The receptacles, bullets or detonators each held in a puck, for example, also move about a subsequent arc synchronized with the charge tube assemblies where the charges extracted from the reservoir cups are dispensed into the receptacles. While the charge tube assembly dispensing device of the invention is ideally suited to granular and explosive powder materials, the invention is equally applicable to other granular or powder materials where accuracy of the dispensed quantity and wastage control are important.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cutaway side elevation of a charge tube assembly positioned for compaction in a receptacle;

FIG. 2 is a top elevation of the charge tube assembly of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 thru FIG. 8 schematically show the sequence of relative movement of the charge tube assembly elements;

FIG. 9 schematically shows an alternate means to doctor a charge of material; and,

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a rotary machine utilizing the charge tube assembly of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the charge tube assembly 20 includes a tube 22 and ram 24 concentrically located therein. The upper portion of the tube 22 is slidably positioned at 26 in a bushing 28, mounted in a support or turret plate 30 further described below. The upper end of the tube 22 includes a threaded bore 32 engaged by a threaded sleeve 34 integral with a housing for a cam follower axle 36 closely fitted in a bore hole 38 and mounting a cam follower roller 40 adapted to engage a cam track formed by upper 44 and lower 42 cam surfaces which both actuate and prevent float or bounce by the follower 40 and tube 22. Both the lower and upper portions of the tube 22 are preferably circular with a hexagonal end 46 integrally formed at the extremity of the upper end engaged by a hexagonal lock nut 48 to provide a locking engagement. When the elevation of the tube 22 is adjusted relative to the follower 40 by turning the tube 22 relative to the member 34, the incremental height adjustment for the tube 22 just described is utilized to assure that the tube 22 properly contacts a receptacle such as the bullet 52 shown and thereby prevents loss of powder 54 when the receptacle 52 is filled.

A support bar 56 is attached to the turret plate 30 at 58 and in turn supports the plate 60 which engages the element 34 to prevent its rotation about a vertical axis while permitting axial movement.

The ram 24 inside the tube 22 extends upwardly with an enlarged portion 62 slidably engaging the inside bore hole 64 of the element 34. A further enlarged head portion 66 of the ram 24 slidably engages a bore hole 68 in a rotatably adjustable collar 70 engaged in a threaded bore hole 72 in the element 74. The element 74 includes a follower axle 78 inserted in a bore hole 76 and a second follower 80 mounted thereon engaging a second cam track formed by a pair of cam surfaces 82 and 84. The element 74 also engages the plate 60 at 86 to prevent rotation about a vertical axis while allowing axial movement. A socket headed stud 88 inserted in a threaded bore hold 90 in the element 74 engages Belleville washers 92 located inside the bore hold 68 located on the upper surface of the enlarged head 66 of the ram 24. Thus, the stud 88 serves as an adjustment of the spring force on the ram 24 and thereby limits the compaction force developed by the ram 24. A lock nut 94 engages the threaded stud 88 and element 74 to retain the adjustment as set.

Normally, the lower shoulder 67 of the head 66 engages the internal flange 69 of the collar 70, however as shown in FIG. 1, the charge tube assembly is performing the step of accurately compacting the powder 3 54 in the bullet jacket 52 subsequent to the extrusion of the powder 54 from the tube 22'int0 the jacket 52. In order to assure that the proper level of powder under the specified compactionforce has been achieved, a

, pin 96 is inserted in a bore hole 98 in the head 66 of the ram 24. The pin 96 passes through a slot 100 in the collar 70 and a slot 102 in the support plate 56. Upper and lower sensors l04 arepositioned for engagement by the pin 96 providing a signal if too much or too little powder is compacted in the bullet 52 to reject the bullet 52 located in the in dividual puck 53.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, a reservoir or cup 106 filled with powder 108 is located directly below the tube 22 and ram 24 during the tube charging cycle. Initially, as shown in FIG'. 3, the lower ends of tube 22 and ram 24 are positioned at identical depths and enter the powder in that relationship as shown in FIG. 4. As the tube 22 further penetrates the powder 108 in FIG. 5, the ram 24 is relatively, rapidly withdrawn creating a void into which powder 110 flows aided by continuing penetration of the tube 22. Thus, the powder is caused to flow into the void 110 both by the displacement by the tube 22. and the vacuumcreated by the rapidly rising ram 24. Subsequently as shown in FIG. 6, the ram movement is reversed and moves downward to precompact and de-aeratethe charge of powder 112 trapped within the tube 22. The effectiveness of this precompaction step will beaffected by the depth of powder "4 below the end of the tube 22, by the type of powder dispensed, and percentage of excessive charge 110 placed within the tube.

Simultaneously or subsequently to the precompaction and deaerating movement of the ram 24, the tube .22 is retracted to the position shown in FIG. 7 thus extruding excess powder leaving a precompacted accurate charge 116 in the end of the tube 22. With certain types of .powder the end of the charge 116 at the open lower end of the tube 22 may require doctoring which may be accomplished by a horizontal relative movement of the reservoir cup 106 with respect to the charge tube assembly 20. To complete the removal of the charge 116 the tube 22 and ram 24 are simultaneously retracted above the reservoir cup 106 as shown in FIG. 8. An optional doctoring step may also be prescribed subsequent to removal of the charge 116 from thereservoir cup 106 as shown in FIG. 9 by providing a doctoring lip H8 adjacent the edge of the reservoir cup l06 to remove projecting material. This doctoring step also is provided by horizontal relative movement accuracy.

- The charge 116 is dispensed by moving the charge tube assembly into position over a bullet or other receptacle as shown in FIG. 1. The ram 24 then descends extruding the charge 116 directly intothe receptacle. lfoptional final compaction is required, which is the usual case with pyrotechnic and explosive powders, the

ram 24 continues to descend into the receptacle or bullet 52 to create the final compacted powder charge 54 as shown in FIG. I. If final compaction is not required or subsequent to final compaction above. the ram 24 is retracted to the identical depth position of the tube 22 and is ready to begin the cycle over again with the position shown in FIG. 3.

i As shown schematically in FIG. 10, plural charge tube assemblies of FIG. I may be mounted around the periphery of a turret plate 30. The turret plate 30 is caused to, continuously rotate carrying the charge tube assemblies. The cam surfaces 42, 44, 82 and 84 are located on rings concentric with and above the turret plate 30 and have the proper undulations to actuate the charge tube assemblies as they revolve with the turret plate 30. The reservoir cups 106 travel on an arcuate conveyor directly underneath the charge tube assemblies and in synchronization therewith along the arcuate portion designated Meter and Charge Tooling." During this portion of the arcuate movement of the charge tube assemblies, the process described above in FIGS. 3 thru 8 takes place. The reservoir cups 106 are returned along the arcuate path and replenished as required from a Powder Receptacle Charging Dispenser." In this manner, the amount of explosive powder in each reservoir cup may be kept at a minimum. The receptacles to be loaded are supplied by a conveyor 122 which carries the pucks 53. The pucks 53 travel underneath and in synchronization with the charge tube assemblies about the arcuate portion of the machine designated Dispense and Consolidate Charge. In the schematic view shown, this portion of the arcuate travel of the turret plate 30 is greatest since with most explosive powders the final consolidation in the bullet or detonator cap requires a specific minimum amount of time under the force of the ram 24. The specific arcuate proportions and the rotating speed of the turret plate will be determined by the requirements of the particular explosive powder or other material dispensed. A final gauging arc is provided at 124 where the sensors 104 are positioned to engage the pin 96 and thereby signal reject bullets or detonators by means not shown. The pucks 53 carrying rejects are segregated at 126 and the properly charged receptacles are removed by the conveyor 128.

I claim:

1. A method for repetitively dispensing an accurate charge of particulate material from a supply container to a charge container comprising the steps of creating a predetermined volume open ended charge cavity after and while the open end of said charge cavity is submerged within said particulate material in said supply container in a manner adapted through the creation of said cavity per se to cause the filling of said cavity with said material, creating a predetermined volume reduction of said cavity while the open end of said charge cavity remains submerged within said particulate material in said supply container in a manner adapted to cause deaeration and precompaction of the charge material within said cavity, the removal of said reduced cavity with said charge material from said sup ply container, and the dispensing of said charge material from said cavity to said charge container.

2. A method for dispensing accurate charges of particulate material, comprising;

initially inserting a tube having a displaceable ram therein extending substantially to the end of said tube into a reservoir of said material,

creating relative tube, ram and reservoir movement creating a cavity within said tube while said end is submerged within said material adapted to cause material to flow into the tube,

precompact and deaerate the material within the tube while said tube end remains submerged within said material,

extrude excess material,

retract the tube and ram with the retained material from the reservoir,

and dispense the retained material from the tube.

3. The method of claim 2 including the step of doctoring the end of the material in the tube by motion of said tube relative to said reservoir prior to the final dispensing step.

4. The method of claim 2 including the steps of dispensing the material into a receptacle and extending the ram into the receptacle to apply a final compaction to the dispensed material.

5. A device for dispensing an accurate charge of particulate material comprising a supply container, a charge tube, a displaceable ram within said tube, means for inserting one end of said tube with said ram into said supply container, means for producing relative reciprocal movement between said tube and ram while within said supply container to create a charge cavity followed by a partial reduction thereof adapted to fill, deaerate, precompact and size the charge remaining within the tube end, and means for effecting conjoint removal of said tube and ram with charge from said supply container.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for inserting is adapted to maintain the end of said ram substantially flush with the end of said tube upon initial insertion into said supply container.

7. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for producing relative reciprocal movement includes a stage of increasing tube penetration relative to said supply container during creation of said charge cavity.

8. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for producing relative reciprocal movement includes a stage of increasing tube penetration and simultaneous ram retraction.

9. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for producing relative reciprocal movement includes a stage wherein said charge cavity is reduced without tube retraction from said supply container to effect deaeration and precompaction of material.

10. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for producing relative reciprocal movement includes a stage wherein said charge cavity is reduced without tube retraction from said supply container to effect deaeration and precompaction of material followed by a stage of tube retraction relative to both supply container and ram to effect a discharge of excess material and reduction of the tube end cavity to an accurate volume.

11. A device for dispensing an accurate charge of particulate material comprising a supply container, a charge tube, a displaceable ram within said tube, means for inserting one end of said tube with said ram end in flush relation into said supply container, means for producing relative reciprocal movement between said tube and ram while within said supply container including a first stage wherein the tube penetrates and the ram retracts relative to said supply container to create a charge cavity filled with particulate material, a second stage wherein the ram advances to deaerate and precompact the material within the tube, a third stage wherein the tube retracts relative to the ram and supply container to size the charge remaining within the tube end, and a fourth stage for effecting conjoint removal of said tube and ram with charge from said supply container.

12. The dispensing device of claim 5 where means for producing relative reciprocal movement includes a cam and follower.

13. The dispensing device of claim 5 including adjustment means for varying the relative motion limits for tube, ram and supply container.

14. The dispensing device of claim 5 including adjustment means adapted to determine the relative ram and tube positions thereby precisely determining the amount of material dispensed.

15. The dispensing device of claim 5 including ram actuating means adapted to eject the charge into a receptacle.

16. The dispensing device of claim 5 including a receptacle for said charge and ram actuating means adapted to eject the charge from said tube into said receptacle and further compact said charge in said receptacle.

17. The dispensing device of claim 16 including gauge means responsive to said ram and sensor means actuatable by said gauge means upon improper compaction.

18. The dispensing device of claim 16 including resilient means adapted to limit the compaction force produced by said ram.

19. The dispensing device of claim 18 including adjustable means adapted to adjust the compaction force of said resilient means.

20. The dispensing device of claim 5 including a container lip adapted to doctor the charge by relative movement of the tube across the lip upon retraction of the tube.

21. A dispensing machine comprising a rotary turret, a plurality of dispensing devices as claimed in claim 5 mounted upon said turret, a pair of stationary cams concentrically mounted with respect to said turret and pairs of cam followers for each dispensing device engaging said stationary cams, means for moving said supply containers with said turret about a segmental arcuate path synchronized with the charge tube and ram assemblies, and receptacle means movable with said turret about a second segmental arcuate path synchronized with said charge tube and ram assemblies. 

1. A method for repetitively dispensing an accurate charge of particulate material from a supply container to a charge container comprising the steps of creating a predetermined volume open ended charge cavity after and while the open end of said charge cavityis submerged within said particulate material in said supply container in a manner adapted through the creation of said cavity per se to cause the filling of said cavity with said material, creating a predetermined volume reduction of said cavity while the open end of said charge cavity remains submerged within said particulate material in said supply container in a manner adapted to cause deaeration and precompaction of the charge material within said cavity, the removal of said reduced cavity with said charge material from said supply container, and the dispensing of said charge material from said cavity to said charge container.
 2. A method for dispensing accurate charges of particulate material, comprising; initially inserting a tube having a displaceable ram therein extending substantially to the end of said tube into a reservoir of said material, creating relative tube, ram and reservoir movement creating a cavity within said tube while said end is submerged within said material adapted to cause material to flow into the tube, precompact and deaerate the material within the tube while said tube end remains submerged within said material, extrude excess material, retract the tube and ram with the retained material from the reservoir, and dispense the retained material from the tube.
 3. The method of claim 2 including the step of doctoring the end of the material in the tube by motion of said tube relative to said reservoir prior to the final dispensing step.
 4. The method of claim 2 including the steps of dispensing the material into a receptacle and extending the ram into the receptacle to apply a final compaction to the dispensed material.
 5. A device for dispensing an accurate charge of particulate material comprising a supply conTainer, a charge tube, a displaceable ram within said tube, means for inserting one end of said tube with said ram into said supply container, means for producing relative reciprocal movement between said tube and ram while within said supply container to create a charge cavity followed by a partial reduction thereof adapted to fill, deaerate, precompact and size the charge remaining within the tube end, and means for effecting conjoint removal of said tube and ram with charge from said supply container.
 6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for inserting is adapted to maintain the end of said ram substantially flush with the end of said tube upon initial insertion into said supply container.
 7. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for producing relative reciprocal movement includes a stage of increasing tube penetration relative to said supply container during creation of said charge cavity.
 8. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for producing relative reciprocal movement includes a stage of increasing tube penetration and simultaneous ram retraction.
 9. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for producing relative reciprocal movement includes a stage wherein said charge cavity is reduced without tube retraction from said supply container to effect deaeration and precompaction of material.
 10. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for producing relative reciprocal movement includes a stage wherein said charge cavity is reduced without tube retraction from said supply container to effect deaeration and precompaction of material followed by a stage of tube retraction relative to both supply container and ram to effect a discharge of excess material and reduction of the tube end cavity to an accurate volume.
 11. A device for dispensing an accurate charge of particulate material comprising a supply container, a charge tube, a displaceable ram within said tube, means for inserting one end of said tube with said ram end in flush relation into said supply container, means for producing relative reciprocal movement between said tube and ram while within said supply container including a first stage wherein the tube penetrates and the ram retracts relative to said supply container to create a charge cavity filled with particulate material, a second stage wherein the ram advances to deaerate and precompact the material within the tube, a third stage wherein the tube retracts relative to the ram and supply container to size the charge remaining within the tube end, and a fourth stage for effecting conjoint removal of said tube and ram with charge from said supply container.
 12. The dispensing device of claim 5 where means for producing relative reciprocal movement includes a cam and follower.
 13. The dispensing device of claim 5 including adjustment means for varying the relative motion limits for tube, ram and supply container.
 14. The dispensing device of claim 5 including adjustment means adapted to determine the relative ram and tube positions thereby precisely determining the amount of material dispensed.
 15. The dispensing device of claim 5 including ram actuating means adapted to eject the charge into a receptacle.
 16. The dispensing device of claim 5 including a receptacle for said charge and ram actuating means adapted to eject the charge from said tube into said receptacle and further compact said charge in said receptacle.
 17. The dispensing device of claim 16 including gauge means responsive to said ram and sensor means actuatable by said gauge means upon improper compaction.
 18. The dispensing device of claim 16 including resilient means adapted to limit the compaction force produced by said ram.
 19. The dispensing device of claim 18 including adjustable means adapted to adjust the compaction force of said resilient means.
 20. The dispensing device of claim 5 including a container lip adapted to doctor the charge by relative movement of the tube across the lip Upon retraction of the tube.
 21. A dispensing machine comprising a rotary turret, a plurality of dispensing devices as claimed in claim 5 mounted upon said turret, a pair of stationary cams concentrically mounted with respect to said turret and pairs of cam followers for each dispensing device engaging said stationary cams, means for moving said supply containers with said turret about a segmental arcuate path synchronized with the charge tube and ram assemblies, and receptacle means movable with said turret about a second segmental arcuate path synchronized with said charge tube and ram assemblies. 